Other view

Egypt has undergone widespread changes since “Arab Spring” protesters sparked the ouster of longtime authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak early in 2011. That leadership vacuum was filled first by the military, then in late June by the election of Muslim Brotherhood-backed Mohammed Morsi to the presidency.

But despite that dramatic shift of power, for now, this financial formula apparently persists: Egypt receives financial aid from the United States.

U.S. diplomats are primed to provide $1 billion in debt relief to Egypt as “part of a gilded charm offensive that Washington hopes will help shore up the country’s economy and prevent its new Islamist leadership from drifting beyond America’s foreign-policy orbit.”

Among the arguments for that investment: Morsi has pledged to elevate civil rights in Egypt. He has included a few Christians and women in his government. Recently, at a nonaligned nations conference in Tehran, he distanced himself from his hosts by calling for Syrian tyrant Bashar Assad to step down.

And yes, U.S. presidents from both major parties long gave ample support to the Mubarak government despite knowing all too well its repressive nature.

Their motive: Limited American influence is better than no influence. ...

Of course, discontinuing aid to Egypt would be a serious step. A positive resolution of Egypt’s severe debt problem is in America’s interest. So is the leverage that money could buy us as a down payment on maintaining a harmonious relationship with the only Mideast nation to ever make real peace with Israel. ...

Egypt’s leaders should understand that American financial assistance to their country could become impossible if they fail to keep their promises of international harmony and religious tolerance.

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